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Purpose: This study aims to complement existing studies by investigating the impact of different corporate social responsibility (CSR) information disclosed by peer listed stars (i.e. governance information [GI] and output information [OI]) on focal firms' responsive CSR (RCSR) and strategic CSR (SCSR) practices. The authors also investigate the influence of different boundary conditions (i.e. founders' social status [SS] and industry pollution intensity). Design/methodology/approach: Based on the listed stars of 16 industries and their 4,096 private peers in China, the authors use the least squares method and logistic regression models to analyze the data set. Findings: The results indicate that the GI of peer listed stars can only positively affect firms' RCSR behavior. The OI of peer listed stars has a positive effect on firms' SCSR behavior while negatively affecting firms' RCSR behavior. The SS of focal firms' founders and their interaction with the industry's pollution level strengthen the abovementioned positive relationships while weakening the negative ones. Practical implications: This study provides insights into the role of listed stars in influencing peer firms' CSR activities, offering important practical implications for both policymakers and managers. Originality/value: This study extends the recent discussion on peer effects of CSR by elucidating the peer star effect on CSR and confirms that firms may adopt heterogeneous CSR practices to achieve sustainable growth by investigating peer firms' different responses to their listed stars' different CSR information. Moreover, by introducing the SS of founders and the pollution intensity of the industry as boundary conditions, this study enriches the research context on CSR activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Karst cave is a sort of special and buried geological structure that was widely developed in the Permo-Carboniferous coal accumulation area of North China. It brings karst collapse and safety hazard in the mining industry. In this study, we propose a seismic structure-constrained inversion of controlled source audio-frequency magnetotelluric (CSAMT) data on a detailed survey and detection of karst caves. Instead of constrained by seismic impedance, the method in this study directly takes the seismic imaging results as structural constraints, which is different from the cross-gradient technique used by conventional structural constraints. First, the seismic migration section is divided according to the CSAMT inversion grid and applied pixel extraction for each grid. Clustering is carried out according to the structural information interpreted by the seismic migration section and the average pixel value of each cluster is calculated. Then the clustered results were used in the seismic structure-constrained inversion of CSAMT data based on cross-gradient technique. After that, as a karst cave model developed in limestone was established, the study compares the structure-constrained inversions with different clustering strategies shows a much more precision of karst cave detection than the method only applies CSAMT data. Moreover, experimental verification is provided in this study, which is for the detection of a suspected karst collapse column from Shandong Province, China. The comparison results further show that the structure-constrained inversion method proposed in this paper is applicable and may effectively improve the locating accuracy of karst caves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optimal allocation of agricultural water and land resources is of great significance in ensuring sustainable food production and economic benefits of farmers. However, agriculture, as an important carbon cycle ecosystem, has paid limited attention to carbon sequestration in the optimal allocation of water and land resources. Therefore, this study developed a new water-carbon-economy coupling model (WCECM) for optimal allocation of agricultural water and land resources. In this model, the minimum water scarcity, maximum carbon sequestration and maximum economic benefits are taken as the optimization objectives. In addition, surface water volume and groundwater volume and planting area etc. were defined as constraints, respectively. Then, the model was solved using the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm III (NSGA-III) and the Entropy-weighted-TOPSIS evaluation method. The developed model was demonstrated in the largest Farm, Youyi Farm, which is one of commercial grain production base in China to analyze the optimization of water and land resources from 2010 to 2019. We found that the new WCECM, based on the simulation of a complex coupled water-carbon-economy system, can realize the optimal allocation of agricultural water and land resources to protect regional water resources, increase carbon sequestration and adjust the agricultural planting structure. In detail, through the multi-objective optimization model, the planting structure and the allocation ratio of surface water and groundwater irrigation water consumption are more suitable for this study area. After the optimization, the area planted with Rice was significantly reduced, the area planted with Maize was increased, and the area planted with Soybean did not change significantly compared with the first two crops. The planting structure has changed from focusing on paddy cultivation to dryland cultivation, with the ratio of Rice area, Maize area and Soybean area being 3:6:1. The water consumption is constrained within manageable limits, with an average annual irrigation water consumption of 2.01 × 108 m3. The amount of carbon sequestered has increased significantly, with an average annual increase of 7.8 × 108 kg. Meanwhile, the optimized economic benefits increased slightly, with a value of ¥2.35 billion. In short, optimization of water and land resources is beneficial for improving farmers' incomes, increasing carbon sequestration in agriculture, and conserving water resources. [Display omitted] • A new water-carbon-economy coupling model was developed. • Optimizing planting structure is beneficial for improving carbon sequestration. • Optimizing resource allocation contributes to sustainable food production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The minorities in Southwest China are characterized by a blend of diverse cultures. It is not clear how values predict behaviors in such a population. We applied Schwartz's refined value theory to assess the association between values and behaviors. Respondents (N = 532) reported values using the Portrait Values Questionnaire and rated their postulated behaviors with the Everyday Behavior Questionnaire. A confirmatory factor analysis validated the discriminant validity of 19 refined values. Multidimensional scaling analyses revealed a circular motivational structure with national characteristics. More importantly, the correlation analysis showed that 13 of 19 values correlated most strongly with its postulated or adjacent behaviors, which supported the cross-cultural prediction of behaviors by values. Variations differing from theoretical structure and the moderating of value-behavior relations by gender better reflected the effects of Chinese traditional culture, such as harmony, benevolence, and "the Golden Mean." The results of this study enrich the cross-cultural validity of the refined value theory among Chinese minorities and enhanced our understanding of the multiculturally influenced minority population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Spartina invasion increased mudflat soil nitrogen by 38.5%. • Aquaculture reclamation of Spartina marshes decreased soil nitrogen by 16.4%. • Most of the change occurred in the non-acid-hydrolysable nitrogen fraction. • Large proportion of the acid-hydrolysable nitrogen remained unidentified. Soil organic nitrogen (SON) turnover regulates soil nitrogen (N) storage and availability. The coastal mudflats (MFs) in China have undergone drastic transformation due to invasive Spartina alterniflora (SAs) and subsequent reclamation of Spartina marshes to create aquaculture ponds (APs), but the impact on the amounts and compositions of soil nitrogen remains unclear. This study measured the topsoil total nitrogen (STN) and organic nitrogen (SON) compositions in 21 coastal wetlands in southeastern China. Results show that conversion of MFs to SAs increased STN by 38.5%, whereas subsequent conversion to APs decreased it by 16.4%, and the effect was consistent across the broad geographic and climate gradients. Most of the change occurred in the non-acid-hydrolysable fraction of SON, which accounted for 32–42% of STN. Within the acid-hydrolysable fraction, amino acid N, ammonia N and amino sugar N together accounted for about 57%, with the remaining 43% unidentified chemically. Our results suggest that invasion by S. alterniflora was the overwhelming driver to increase bioavailability of nitrogen and related biogeochemical processes in coastal soil, and the effects were partly reversed in subsequent reclamation of Spartina marshes to create aquaculture ponds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the second largest corn producer in this world, China has abundant corn straw resources. The study assessed the energy balance and global warming potential of corn straw-based bioethanol production and utilization in China from a life cycle perspective. The results revealed that bioethanol used as gasoline and diesel blend fuel could reduce global warming potential by 10%-97% and 4%-96%, respectively, as compared to gasoline and diesel for transport. The total global warming potential, net global warming potential, net energy, and Net Energy Ratio per MJ ethanol generated from corn straw-based bioethanol system are estimated to be 0.20 kg CO2-eq, 0.012 kg CO2-eq, 0.60 MJ, and 1.87, respectively. By using sensitivity analysis, we found that the collected coefficient and compressing density of straw have a more obvious influence on energy balance; transportation distance has a more obvious influence on global warming potential emission factor. The by-products may be utilized as fertilizer, animal feed, cement replacement, or high-value lignin chemicals, which make a contribution to offsetting 0.28 MJ per MJ ethanol of energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The availability and distribution of biomass resources are important for the development of the bioenergy industry in a region. Biomass resources are abundant in China; however, the raw material is severely deficient, which makes the Chinese bioenergy industry an embarrassment and a contradiction. Unclear reserves and distribution and changing trends of biomass resources are the reason for this situation. A collection coefficient model of Chinese agricultural residue resources was established and the spatial and temporal pattern dynamics of agricultural residue resources in the last 30 years were analyzed. The results show that agricultural residue resources increased in stages from 1978 to 2011, including a rapid increase from 1978 to 1999, a significant fall from 2000 to 2004, and a slow increase from 2004 to 2011. Crops straw and livestock manure are the main ingredients of agricultural residue resources with proportions of 53–59% and 31–38%, respectively. However, the former has gradually decreased, while the latter is increasing. This mainly resulted from the strategic reorganization of the Chinese agriculture structure and the rapid development of large-scale livestock breeding and agricultural mechanization. Large regional differences existed in Chinese agricultural residue resources, and three distribution types formed, including resource-rich areas in North China, Northeast and Inner Mongolia, resource-limited areas in Central and Southwest China, and resource-poor areas along Northwest and Southeast coasts. This pattern is a reverse of the distributions of climatic conditions, water resources, economic development, human resources, and technological levels. Finally, it can be predicted that livestock manure and biomass conversion technology at low temperature will play increasingly significant roles in bioenergy industry development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the vegetation dynamics and their correlations with climate variability in northern China were evaluated based on the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and meteorological datasets from 1982 to 2006. The NDVI showed that vegetation cover had a tiny increasing trend for whole study area in the past 25 years. However, the interannual changes of NDVI were different in each season. The part of spring and autumn NDVI values increased significantly, while the summer NDVI increased no significantly. And the interannual variations of the NDVI showed obvious spatial differentiations. The annual max NDVI increased were mainly distributed in most areas of grassland and farmland, whereas the annual max NDVI decreased were mainly distributed in forest areas. The annual NDVI and temperature had more important relationships. Thus, as compared to precipitation, the correlation between NDVI with temperature was stronger than the precipitation in northern China. NDVI and climatic variables were different in each season. The NDVI trends exhibited a close correspondence to climatological variations in region and season. In Addition, human activities also had profound effect to the NDVI trends in some regions. All these findings will make humans know more about the knowledge of the natural forces that influence vegetation change and supply a scientific basic resource to for the environmental management in northern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The regional distribution of household biogas and large & medium-scale farm biogas project was analyzed by the index of popularization rate. The results showed that Chinese household biogas has an obvious geographical difference in popularization rate, and can be divided into five zones: high popularity in Southwest areas, steady development in Central areas, rapid growth in Western areas, and low popularity in Northeast and Eastern coastal areas. The emphasis of household biogas development was shifted from east to west, which was mainly caused by combined effects of climatic conditions and economic level. The popularization rate of large & medium-scale biogas project in livestock farms was low, but developed rapidly with average annual increasing rate of 13.94%. And great differentiation existed in popularization rate and growth trends, of which 98.63% of running biogas project and 94.5% of digester capacity were located in southern areas to demarcation line constituted by boundaries of Liaoning, Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu and Sichuan. Two-way growth in amount and growth trend was shown in southeast coast and southwest regions, while unidirectional growth of amount in inland areas. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

According to the characteristics of low porosity and low permeability in Huaqing Oilfield, a kind of carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl (CMHPG) fracturing fluid was developed with concentration of 0.25%. The fluid has strong sand-carrying ability and through gel breaking. The residue content of CMHPG was only 128 mg/L. And reduce the effect on sand-carrying ability came from high concentration of calcium and magnesium ions in water. It has achieved good application results in Huaqing chang-6 reservoir of Changqing Oilfield. After fracturing transformation, the six months' average production index of 23 test wells was 1.4 times as high as the compared well of the same well group. Using CMHPG fracturing fluid is one of the highly effective ways to stimulate the lowpermeability reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Phytoplankton abundance and community composition show high spatial heterogeneity. • Cyanophyta, Bacillatiophyta and Chlorophyta are dominant phyla. • Species similarities between different water bodies are generally low. • Phytoplankton spatial heterogeneity is largely structured by anthropogenic effects. • Algal growth in bay-river ecosystems is limited by nutrient and climate indicators. Phytoplankton community spatial scales vary in typical coastal bay-river systems under natural and anthropogenic effects. However, their relative importance in shaping phytoplankton spatial heterogeneity has been largely uncharacterized in the literature. In this study, we performed comprehensive analyses using field monitoring, meteorological, and remote sensing datasets from a coastal bay-river system in South China (the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay-Pearl River tributaries) to examine phytoplankton spatial heterogeneity and main effects. We showed that water quality in the four water bodies of the typical coastal bay-river system in South China were relatively poor. Phytoplankton community abundance, taxonomic grouping, dominant species, and species similarity varied significantly in response to environmental gradients. We showed that Cyanophyta, Bacillatiophyta, and Chlorophyta were dominant phyla, and we observed regional variations in taxonomic groups and dominant species. Phytoplankton abundance was significantly higher in Dongjiang River and water bodies in branched bays when compared with other regions due to nutrient input from extensive agricultural and urban development, where the dominant phylum was Cyanophyta. Cyclotella (Bacillariophyta) had relatively high abundance and was widely distributed throughout the coastal bay-river system, except in the Dongjiang River. Melosira (Bacillariophyta) had relatively high abundance in Dongjiang and Xijiang Rivers, Merismopedia (Cyanophyta) dominated in the Dongjiang River and highly urbanized branched bay areas, while Microcystis (Cyanophyta) only dominated in Beijiang and Xijiang Rivers. Dominant species distributions showed apparent spatial heterogeneity in phytoplankton community composition. Species similarities between different water bodies were generally low, but phytoplankton species similarities between the Dongjiang River and water bodies in the branched bay area were relatively high, which indicated that water exchange associated with freshwater and nutrient inputs may have profoundly influenced species dispersal and dominant phytoplankton species. Redundancy analyses (RDA) demonstrated that pH, elevation, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), dissolved active phosphorus (SRP), total dissolved phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), and nitrate nitrogen (NO 3 −-N) values - associated with nutrient and climate indicators were the main factors explaining structured phytoplankton spatial distributions. Variance partitioning analyses (VPA) showed that phytoplankton community variations were explained by anthropogenic factors (eutrophication) in summer. Our study improves our understanding of the natural and anthropogenic effects on phytoplankton spatial heterogeneity and provides basic study data for long-term phytoplankton evolution from river to bay areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently China's wind power industry is challenged by many problems such as wind power integration and wind curtailment, which seriously hinders the development of onshore wind power. Since China's policy has a direct and significant influence on wind power industry, it is vital to analyze and evaluate published policies. This paper explores in detail 134 China's onshore wind power policies from 2005 to 2015 so as to provide analytical support for future formulation and implementation of wind power policy. Based on policy summary from equipment manufacturing industry, wind farms and power grid industry, this paper evaluates the policies from the perspective of overall plan, support policy and policy implementation using fitting method, game theory and empirical analysis. The results indicate that China's wind policy is gradually becoming perfected, for example, there are more reasonable objectives and improved support policies. However, many problems remain to be solved, like unreasonable planning, imperfect support policies, immature trading systems and uncoordinated actions among interest related parties. Furthermore, combined with international experiences, suggestions on improving China's wind power policy are proposed from seven aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An assessment framework integrating LCA, TEA, and EW is proposed. • The CBFE and SGFB routes are considered competitors of the FGFB route in China. • The SGFB route scores the greatest comprehensive competitiveness. • The CBFE route performs better in economic benefit at the current prices. The world's first industrialized coal-based fuel ethanol (CBFE) and emerging second-generation fuel bioethanol (SGFB) routes are promising alternatives and potential competitors to the conventional first-generation fuel bioethanol (FGFB) route. Understanding the comprehensive competitiveness of the three fuel ethanol production routes is important for the development of clean and low-carbon transportation worldwide. However, there is currently a dearth of related knowledge and scientific data. In this study, we identified and compared the strengths and weaknesses of the three fuel ethanol production routes using an assessment framework that integrates life cycle assessment, techno-economic analysis, and entropy weight method. Environmental performance was investigated with the 18 midpoint impact categories of the ReCiPe 2016 method and modeled using the SimaPro software. Economic performance was represented using the net present value, dynamic payback period, and internal rate of return. The results demonstrated the highest comprehensive score in the SGFB route owing to its excellent environmental performance, which will likely address the unsustainability of the FGFB route through the efficient utilization of agricultural residuals. Owing to its considerable economic benefit, the industrialization of the CBFE route not only offers a new downstream chain in the coal industry but also diversifies the sources of fuel ethanol away from biomass. However, such a promising alternative faces a substantial challenge associated with its significant environmental impact, especially with its high greenhouse gas emissions. These results provide valuable information on the relative advantages and disadvantages of the CBFE, FGFB, and SGFB routes for scientific tradeoffs and decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficacy of the synergistic interplay of various programs about energy efficiency and emission reduction in China's endeavor to achieve carbon peaking and carbon neutrality remains to be determined. This research constructed a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model to examine the economic, environmental, social, and energy consequences of various policy combinations. Using data from the 2018 input-output table of China, we create 21 industry sectors and examine the combined impacts of different carbon policies. Our findings indicate that the effects of carbon emission reduction are more favorable when multiple carbon-neutral policies are implemented together, compared to the impact of a single policy. Among the various combinations of policies examined, the combination of feed-in tariff subsidy policy (FIT), renewable energy quota policy (RPS), carbon trading, carbon tax, and carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS) technology proves to be the most effective. The study predicts that by 2060, this combination of policies could lead to a reduction of 32.5% in carbon dioxide emissions. At the same time, it was discovered that a combination of lower-intensity renewable energy quotas, carbon trading, carbon taxes, and higher-intensity subsidies for carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies, the synergy indicator θ exceeds 1, indicating a more stable economy; When the carbon tax policy is more robust, and the remaining three policies are more minor, carbon emissions fall the most and are the most ecologically beneficial. Imposing excessively high renewable energy quotas while maintaining the same level of technology and substitutability between fossil fuels and electric energy sources will result in economic instability afterward. Therefore, we suggest that to attain balanced growth of the environment, society, and economy, the government should increase the function of policy combinations and balance several objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• UAV-based model estimates CCC of vegetation communities in Huixian Karst wetland of International Importance, south China. • Fine delineation of canopy chlorophyll content of seven vegetation communities under different inundation frequencies. • Combination index with four spectral bands is more sensitive to CCC of calcium- and alkali-tolerant vegetation community. • Revealing that the variation ranges of LCC and CCC communities displays a decreasing trend from high- to low-frequency inundation. Karst wetlands are an important type of wetland among the global karst areas that suffer from serious ecosystem degradation. Chlorophyll content, an important parameter of vegetation functional traits, can indicate the photosynthetic activity, mutation and stress level, and nutritional state of vegetation. However, quantitative estimation of canopy chlorophyll content (CCC) of calcium-loving and alkali-resistant vegetation in karst wetlands using remote sensing technology for clarifying the relationship between canopy spectral reflectance and the CCC of vegetation communities remains a challenge. In this study, we propose a retrieval approach for estimating the CCC of seven typical vegetation communities in the largest karst wetland in China, using a combination of parameter/non– parameter estimation model, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) multispectral images. We further evaluated the sensitivity of various spectral indices to the CCC of the vegetation communities and explored the influence of image feature distribution on CCC estimation accuracy. We revealed the variation patterns of leaf chlorophyll content (LCC) and CCC under different inundation frequencies in the karst wetland. We confirmed that the UAV-based inversion method proposed in this study achieved the CCC estimation of seven vegetation communities (R2 = 0.57 ∼ 0.93, RMSE = 8.80 SPAD ∼ 60.68 SPAD), and obtained high estimation accuracy (R2 = 0.77, RMSE = 22.04 SPAD) of Cladium chinense Nees (CCN, endemic vegetation in karst wetland). We found that the optimal reflectance ranges for estimating the CCC of the seven vegetation communities were 714 nm ∼ 746 nm and 814 nm ∼ 866 nm, and that the ChIrededge and MSR indices negatively influenced the CCC estimation of CCN and Carex baccans Nees (CBN), respectively. We demonstrated that vegetation communities with well-defined canopy structure (Triadica sebifera (Linnaeus) Small) achieved higher estimation accuracy with moderate uncertainty (ε = 10.80 % ∼ 15.49 %) than the herbaceous vegetation communities (CCN, CBN, and Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.). The bias of the CCC estimation based on linear regression and partial least squares regression models in different vegetation communities ranged from 1.61 % to 49.41 %. We confirmed that the magnitude of variations in LCC and CCC for these vegetation communities presented a decreasing pattern from that in high-frequency inundation communities to that in the low-frequency ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Global warming and financial crisis have brought severe threats to human existence and economic growth. Utilization of potential for energy savings is necessary for alleviating energy shortage, protecting environment and achieving sustainable economic and social development. This paper has not only comprehensively evaluated the China’s energy savings opportunities, but also systematically analyzed the primary challenges and deficiencies in China’s energy savings policies, and proposed targeted countermeasures and suggestions. This is of important guiding significance for China to establish a long-term effective mechanism to boost energy-saving technologies and products, and to promote the economic development toward a low-carbon mode. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study aimed to test multiple roles of personality traits and values on the relationship between ethnic affirmation and belonging (EAAB) and other-group orientation (OGO). This study included 1047 participants from an ethnic minority area in southwest China. The results showed that EAAB was positively associated with OGO in both majority and minority groups. However, the relationship of EAAB and OGO was mediated by different mechanisms in majority compared to minority groups. In the majority ethnic group, self-transcendence and self-enhancement values, and agreeableness, partially mediated the relationship, where OGO was positively correlated with agreeableness and self-transcendence values and negatively correlated with self-enhancement values. In the minority ethnic group, conservation values and extraversion partially mediated the relationship, where OGO was positively correlated with extraversion and conservation values. Different mediating mechanisms suggest that future studies on motivational forces (values) of intergroup contact attitudes should consider factors of ecological and cultural diversity. • Relationships between ethnic identity and inter-group attitudes were examined. • In an ethnic majority, self-transcendence values and agreeableness were mediators. • Self-enhancement values were also a negative mediator in this group. • In minority ethnic groups, conservation values and extraversion were mediators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The lipid reference intervals (RIs) that are currently used for children in China are not based on studies of the local population and normally do not consider age or gender differences. This study aimed to establish age- and sex-specific RIs for the fasting serum lipid levels in the pediatric population aged 0 - 15 years in Nanjing, China., Methods: 5,866 children aged 3 days to ＜15 years were recruited to establish serum lipid RIs, and the triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were analyzed using the Roche cobas702 automatic biochemical analyzer. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (nHDL-C) levels were calculated (LDL-C=TC-HDL-C-TG/5, and nHDL-C=TC-HDL-C). Smoothed percentile curves for the boys and girls were generated using the LMS method. Age- and sex-specific RIs were the determined according to the methods recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute EP28-A3c guidelines., Results: This study showed that the serum lipid levels varied considerably throughout childhood and adolescence, with sex differences, especially in infants aged less than 2 years and puberty. Based on the Harris-Boyd method, sex partitions were required for ages ＜6 months in the TC indicator and for ages ≤ 28 days in LDL-C and nHDL-C. Age partitions were also required for all serum lipid parameters., Conclusions: We established age- and sex-specific RIs for TG, TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, and nHDL-C parameters in children aged 0 days to ＜15 years in Nanjing, China. These data are thus considered to be useful for the screening of dyslipidemia in children and adolescents.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs-exacerbated respiratory disease （N-ERD） is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by eosinophilic inflammation, featuring chronic rhinosinusitis （CRS）, asthma, and intolerance to cyclooxygenase 1 （COX-1） inhibitors. The use of these medications can lead to an acute worsening of rhinitis and asthma symptoms. This condition has not yet received sufficient attention in China, with a high rate of misdiagnosis and a lack of related research. The Chinese Rhinology Research Group convened a group of leading young experts in otolaryngology from across the country, based on the latest domestic and international evidence-based medical practices to formulate this consensus.The consensus covers the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnostic methods, and treatment strategies for N-ERD, including pharmacotherapy, surgery, biologic treatments, and desensitization therapy. The goal is to improve recognition of N-ERD, reduce misdiagnosis, and enhance treatment outcomes., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© by the Editorial Department of Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.)

The role of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in the treatment of Graves' orbitopathy (GO) has attracted much attention. This study is to evaluate the benefit and safety of MMF in moderate-to-severe GO. A meta-analysis of clinical control trials comparing MMF (with or without glucocorticoid (GC)) for the treatment of GO with GC was conducted. We searched the databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Wanfang, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), for articles published up to 15 June 2022. The primary outcome is referred to the improvement in overall response, and secondary outcomes included the change in clinical activity score (CAS) and adverse events (AEs). Of the 289 articles initially searched, 6 studies were finally eligible for inclusion. The results showed that MMF (with or without GC) was superior to GC in the treatment of GO (OR 3.34, 95% CI 2.17-5.14; p <  0.00001). Subgroup analyses also showed that MMF monotherapy was more effective than GC (OR 4.46, 95% CI 2.52-7.87; p <  0.00001). Compared to methylprednisolone (MP) monotherapy, a combination of MP and MMF was more effective. CAS decreased even more significantly (WMD 0.29, 95% CI 0.10-0.48; p = 0.002) and fewer AEs occurred (OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.06-0.72; p =  0.01) in patients receiving MMF. The pooled data suggested that MMF treatment in GO might be promising. Compared with GC therapy, MMF is safer and more effective. However, more large-sample and high-quality studies targeting MMF use in GO patients and long-term surveillance of prognosis are urgently needed.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 outbreaks on emergency patients in a resuscitation room in Nanning, China., Methods: A single-center cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted in the emergency department of a tertiary public hospital from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2020, in Nanning, Guangxi, China. We collected the data of patients in the resuscitation room to investigate the number of patients accessing emergency services during the study period. Data in 2020 were compared to the data during the same period in 2019., Results: The number of emergency patients in the resuscitation room during the COVID-19 pandemic has decreased in intrinsic diseases, extrinsic diseases, and pediatric cases, especially in the early stages of the pandemic. Additionally, the length of stay of emergency patients in the resuscitation room was reduced., Conclusions: The number of emergency patients in the resuscitation room during the pandemic of COVID-19 in 2020 was reduced compared to that in the same period in 2019 in Nanning, China. This situation shows a serious social problem, which should arouse the attention of the medical profession and the government., (© 2022 The Authors. Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: We investigated the feasibility of two biomarkers of endothelial damage (Syndecan-1 and thrombomodulin) in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and their association with inflammation, coagulopathy, and mortality., Methods: The records of 49 COVID-19 patients who were admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) in Wuhan, China between February and April 2020 were examined. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data, and outcomes were compared between survivors and non-survivors COVID-19 patients, and between patients with high and low serum Syndecan-1 levels. The dynamics of serum Syndecan-1 levels were also analyzed., Results: The levels of Syndecan-1 were significantly higher in non-survivor group compared with survivor group (median 1031.4 versus 504.0 ng/mL, P = 0.002), and the levels of thrombomodulin were not significantly different between these two groups (median 4534.0 versus 3780.0 ng/mL, P = 0.070). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the group with high Syndecan-1 levels had worse overall survival (log-rank test: P = 0.023). Patients with high Syndecan-1 levels also had significantly higher levels of thrombomodulin, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α. Data on the dynamics of Syndecan-1 levels indicated much greater variations in non-survivors than survivors., Conclusions: COVID-19 patients with high levels of Syndecan-1 develop more serious endothelial damage and inflammatory reactions, and have increased mortality. Syndecan-1 has potential for use as a marker for progression or severity of COVID-19. Protecting the glycocalyx from destruction is a potential treatment for COVID-19., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Background: Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare disease that almost exclusively affects women of reproductive age. Patients are warned of the increased risks if they become pregnant. However, information on pregnancy in patients after the diagnosis of LAM is limited., Methods: Patients were collected from the LAM registry study at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China. Patients with a history of pregnancy after the diagnosis of LAM were included. Medical records were reviewed, and baseline information and data during and after pregnancy were collected in May 2018., Results: Thirty patients with a total of 34 pregnancies after the diagnosis of LAM were included. Livebirth, spontaneous abortion and induced abortion occurred in 10, 6 and 18 pregnancies, respectively. Sirolimus treatment was common (17/34). A total of 6/10, 5/6, and 6/18 patients with livebirths, spontaneous abortions, and induced abortions respectively, had a history of sirolimus treatment. Ten pregnancies (29.4%) had LAM-associated complications during pregnancy, including the exacerbation of dyspnea in 7 patients, pneumothorax in 3 patients (2 resulting in induced abortion and 1 successful parturition), and spontaneous bleeding of renal angiomyolipomas in 2 patients (both having successful parturition). No chylothorax was found during pregnancy. There were six pregnancies in six patients (17.6%) who had a history of livebirth after sirolimus treatment for LAM (all having successful parturition and healthy infants); two of these patients reported exacerbated dyspnea after parturition compared with before pregnancy., Conclusions: Patients with LAM, especially those taking sirolimus before pregnancy, were at a higher risk of spontaneous abortion. Complications such as pneumothorax, bleeding of renal angiomyolipoma, and exacerbated dyspnea during pregnancy were common. In patients without spontaneous abortion, sirolimus discontinuation before or during pregnancy did not lead to increased adverse neonatal outcomes.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of yoga on exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), a rare cystic lung disease in women., Patients and Methods: This was a nonrandomized, controlled study conducted in Beijing, China (August 27, 2017 - April 26, 2018). Twenty-six participants were allocated to the intervention (yoga) group (n = 13) or control group (n = 13). The yoga intervention involved a 24-week program of yoga class training for 90 min once a week and no fewer than 2 at-home sessions per week (at least 15 min per session). The 6-min walking distance (6MWD), lung function, serum vascular endothelial growth factor-D (VEGF-D) levels, quality of life, and symptoms of anxiety and depression were measured at baseline, 12-week and 24-week follow-up. An incremental cardiopulmonary exercise test was conducted at baseline and the 24-week follow-up., Results: Eleven patients completed the yoga training program. The yoga group exhibited improvements in the following outcomes versus those of the control group: 6MWD (+ 55 ± 29 m vs + 18 ± 49 m, P = 0.04), anaerobic threshold (3.4 ± 2.4 ml/min/kg vs 1.6 ± 1.4 ml/min/kg, P = 0.035) and peak work load (11.7 ± 14.6 W vs 0.2 ± 9.1 W, P = 0.027). There was no significant difference in peak oxygen consumption (VO 2 peak), lung function, VEGF-D level, and quality of life between the yoga and control groups. No adverse effects were found in the yoga group., Conclusion: Yoga is a feasible and safe intervention for pulmonary rehabilitation and potentially improves exercise capacity in patients with LAM., Trial Registration: (Clinical trial registration number at www.chictr.org.cn: ChiCTR-OON-1701274).

Purpose: We sought to investigate the relationship between high CVP, AKI, and mortality in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass., Materials: All patients aged 18 years or older who underwent cardiac surgery with CPB were prospectively reviewed. Patients were excluded when renal artery were involved before and during surgery. Patients were dichotomized into high CVP group(>10 mmHg) and low CVP group(<10 mmHg). All patients were followed by telephone., Results: A total of 1941 patients were included in observed study. In high CVP group, three hundred forty-seven patients (43.32%) developed AKI, while eighty-six (7.543%) in low CVP group(P <0.0001). Furthermore, in every KDIGO stage, patients of AKI in high CVP group were more than those in low CVP group(P <0.0001). The incidence of AKI increased as CVP increased, especially when CVP was higher than 10cmH2O. In a median follow-up time of 9.2 months, Crude mortality is 8.365% in the high CVP group compared to 1.929% in the low CVP group (p<0.0001). In multivariate analysis, CVP remained the independent predictor of survival., Conclusions: High CVP is associated with AKI , and it is independently related to all-cause mortality in patients underwent cardiovascular surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The meiotic program initiation pathway genes (CYP26B1, NANOS1 and STRA8) have been proposed to play key roles in spermatogenesis., Objective: To elucidate the exact role of the genetic variants of the meiosis initiation genes in spermatogenesis, we genotyped the potential functional genetic variants of CYP26B1, NANOS1 and STRA8 genes, and evaluated their effects on spermatogenesis in our study population., Design, Setting, and Participants: In this study, all subjects were volunteers from the affiliated hospitals of Nanjing Medical University between March 2004 and July 2009 (NJMU Infertile Study). Total 719 idiopathic infertile cases were recruited and divided into three groups according to WHO semen parameters: 201 azoospermia patients (no sperm in the ejaculate even after centrifugation), 155 oligozoospermia patients (sperm counts <20×10(6)/ml) and 363 infertility/normozoospermia subjects (sperm counts >20×10(6)/ml). The control group consisted of 383 subjects with normal semen parameters, all of which had fathered at least one child without assisted reproductive technologies., Measurements: Eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CYP26B1, NANOS1 and STRA8 genes were determined by TaqMan allelic discrimination assay in 719 idiopathic infertile men and 383 healthy controls., Results and Limitations: The genetic variant rs10269148 of STRA8 gene showed higher risk of spermatogenic impairment in the groups of abnormospermia (including azoospermia subgroup and oligozoospermia subgroup) and azoospermia than the controls with odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of 2.52 (1.29-4.94) and 2.92 (1.41-6.06), respectively (P = 0.006, 0.002 respective). Notably, larger sample size studies and in vivo or in vitro functional studies are needed to substantiate the biological roles of these variants., Conclusions: Our results provided epidemiological evidence supporting the involvement of genetic polymorphisms of the meiotic program initiation genes in modifying the risk of azoospermia and oligozoospermia in a Han-Chinese population.